Looking advice on an MTB for my 11-y-o grandson
Posted: 6 Jun 2016, 11:21pm
My 11-year-old grandson is taking quite an interest in off-road riding. Mountain Biking, that is, not surfaced trails. We've been several times to Sherwood Pines doing the Red and Blue routes; he's riding a cheap kids (24" wheel) hybrid but manages ok.
Now he's wanting to get more into Mountain Biking proper and I'd like to get him a half-decent bike to tackle more adventurous stuff and have more fun. My problem is that he's only really big enough for a 24" wheel bike (my 17" adult MTB is easily too big for him.) Any suggestions or advice would be most welcome. Some more information about our situation....
Intended rides:- MTB trails with drop-offs, jumps, mud, rocks, roots, etc. nothing too adventurous; I don't want him damaged! Also the great offroad outdoors (Peak District to start with.) Maybe progressing to some Trailquest or similar events.
Budget: this is a hard one so I'll pitch at somewhere between £200 and £800 new, half that second-hand. That budget is just a wild guess and isn't rigid.
At the moment, I'm thinking something weighing less than my adult MTB, hardtail, front suspension (air?), SPD pedals, knobbly tryes and I haven't really got much of a clue - its 20+ years since I bought an MTB!
Any advice appreciated.
Please!
Now he's wanting to get more into Mountain Biking proper and I'd like to get him a half-decent bike to tackle more adventurous stuff and have more fun. My problem is that he's only really big enough for a 24" wheel bike (my 17" adult MTB is easily too big for him.) Any suggestions or advice would be most welcome. Some more information about our situation....
Intended rides:- MTB trails with drop-offs, jumps, mud, rocks, roots, etc. nothing too adventurous; I don't want him damaged! Also the great offroad outdoors (Peak District to start with.) Maybe progressing to some Trailquest or similar events.
Budget: this is a hard one so I'll pitch at somewhere between £200 and £800 new, half that second-hand. That budget is just a wild guess and isn't rigid.
At the moment, I'm thinking something weighing less than my adult MTB, hardtail, front suspension (air?), SPD pedals, knobbly tryes and I haven't really got much of a clue - its 20+ years since I bought an MTB!
Any advice appreciated.
Please!